SHILLONG: Mendipathar, the only town in the state connected with railways has also intensified its efforts to check passengers in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Though only one train comes in the town every evening, the District Administration and Health Department is making sure that every passenger who lands at the railway station is checked for any symptoms of the virus.
North Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, SC Sadhu said that regular screening is being done at the station as soon as the train arrives even though the number of passengers is minimal now since railways services are also shut in Guwahati.
“Less than 100 people come in this train,” he said while adding that both outsiders and locals are being screened.
When asked what kind of screening is done at the station, he said that they usually identify and take the individual profiles of the people and their other details such as the place they are coming from.
Stating that no thermal screening is being done in the station, he however added that health officials check for the symptoms of COVID-19 on the arriving passengers.
He also said that they have identified few people who have come from affected states of the country and though they don’t have any symptoms, they have been asked to self –quarantine and they are being tracked and monitored.
As North Garo Hills is the entry point for the entire Garo Hills region, screening is also being done at six entry points of the region including Bajengdoba, Khaldang , Mendipathar, Dainadubi, Kharkutta and Adokgre.
“Here too, we are identifying people who are coming from outside,” he said.
